By Wes Kibble
Excitement is building as the 1st Annual Barriere Fun Run quickly approaches. The event, which will be held rain or shine, on Sunday, June 3, consists of a 5km race, 10km race, and a kid’s race.
Entry fee for the 5km and 10km races is $25 if pre-registered online, or $30 on race day. However, the kid’s race entry is the donation of a non-perishable food item to the Food Bank. All proceeds from the event go to the North Thompson Volunteer and Information Centre.
As with most community based events, the volunteers are what will make the event a success. At this time, we are still looking for volunteers to help with the Barriere Fun Run. Positions available include race day registration, race package pickup, people to guide the runners on the route and more. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Wes Kibble at weskibble@barrierefunrun.com or 250-682-7771.
If you live along the route and are unable to run or volunteer at the event, you can still support the runners. The Barriere Fun Run features a broad range of athletes, from hard core runners that have been competing for years to the first time racer. Whether they finish first or last, every runner still needs and loves support during the running race.
There is no feeling in the world like coming around a corner and having a group of complete strangers cheering you on. Talk about a motivation builder!
If you live on the route, show the runners some love by cheering them on. Even if you do not live on the route, find a safe spot, make some posters, pound on drums, blow whistles, and most importantly have fun with the runners.
Spectators have made races a lot more enjoyable for me in the past. Take for instance the young lady with a homemade sign that said, “You have stamina! Call me after the race!”
Or the guy sitting in his lawn chair, drinking a beer while watching the race go by his house. He had a cooler beside him and a cardboard sign that said, “I will give you a beer and piece of pizza if you quit right now.”
One of my favorite parts of the Kamloops ‘Boogie The Bridge’ race that I have run in, is the group of seniors sitting in their chairs cheering the runners on. I think they had the most fun out of everyone. That is the key…have fun with it!
The route, along with other event information, is available online at www.barrierefunrun.com
I am a true believer that the citizens of Barriere will help make this event a success. The plan is for the Barriere Fun Run to become an annual event, and the support and community spirit that Barriere is famous for will allow the run to grow larger every year.